"The Miracle of the Gaderene Swine" by Riviere‘Legion’: A Poem by M.D. Skeen The Society August 4, 2025 Culture, Poetry 8 Comments . Legion Hello there friend, our name is Legion We are those same 6000 demons Who long ago in Gerasenes Became a man’s mental disease. We took a normal happy child And turned him feral, naked, wild, Drove him to live amongst the tombs With open sores, infected wounds, Covered in cob-webs, dust, and ash, Thrown to the ground to writhe and thrash And roll around over the stones Which covered rotten flesh and bones, Gave him the strength to break his chains While we were squirming in his brains. For years that poor man lived in squalor Where he would gibber, howl, and holler Till one day through a storm at sea There came some men from Galilee. Approaching us with flashing eyes The Lord saw through our thin disguise. Despite our vast majority He spoke with such authority That, our position perilous, We begged him not to torture us, But rather cast us in a herd Of pigs, I know, it seems absurd. He sent us shrieking to the swine Which ran down to the frothing brine And plunging in the foaming waves We left the mad man of the graves, Who blinking, sanely, dressed and raised His voice to sing the Savior’s praise. 2,000 years to convalesce, We seek new victims to possess Be on your guard and always pray We don’t decide to come your way. . . M.D. Skeen works as an attorney in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO READERS: If you enjoyed this poem or other content, please consider making a donation to the Society of Classical Poets. The Society of Classical Poets does not endorse any views expressed in individual poems or commentary. ***Read Our Comments Policy Here*** 8 Responses Roy Eugene Peterson August 4, 2025 What a great poem from one of the more memorable stories in the Bible. The plural personification was an outstanding way to present this story and then to bring it into present times with a warning I felt was admirably alarming. Reply Martin Briggs August 4, 2025 I really enjoyed this. It retells the story convincingly, but then the two chilling final couplets take it a step further. Very clever. Reply Williams Oladele August 5, 2025 This was delightful to read. I especially appreciate the didactic touch at the end. Well done, Skeen! Reply Cynthia L Erlandson August 5, 2025 Good retelling — very vivid descriptions! Reply Joseph S. Salemi August 5, 2025 The idea of a dramatic monologue in the voices of the demons that seized the Gadarene swine is interesting. I know that there have been other cases of a literary text speaking in the voice of the devil or demons (“The Screwtape Letters” of C.S. Lewis comes to mind, or scenes from Marlowe’s “Doctor Faustus, or Goethe’s “Faust”). There are also some older satires, where the devil speaks, but mostly as a device for the poet to lampoon political opponents. One thing about quoting demons: you need to keep in mind not just what they might say, but what they will never say. No demon would ever say “the Lord’ or “the Savior” in reference to Christ. Nor would they ever, as in the penultimate line of this poem, give human beings the advice to “always pray.” Reply Paul A. Freeman August 8, 2025 A rip-roaring re-telling, MD. Reply Margaret Coats August 11, 2025 Demons can be inconsistent and sarcastic, saying anything that serves the purpose of damning the human beings they address. They are, after all, fallen angels aware of truth, and capable of using it to pervert potential victims they seek to possess. I very much like the Gospel story told from their point of view, concluded with their own “dare me” sort of warning. Reminds me of a good priest who tells laypersons not to make any reference to devils, even by a prayer of exorcism, for the very reason that when you call them, they come. Your poem, M. D., is therefore a daring one, but suggests the distaste one ought to have, and a grateful appreciation for the Lord capable of casting out Legion. Reply M.D. Skeen August 21, 2025 Thank you Dr. Salemi and Dr. Coats. Interesting to note the way the demon possessed man himself addresses Jesus in a rather reverential tone in verse 28: “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, don’t torture me!” Whether that is the afflicted man’s consciousness speaking in his own voice or Legion (perhaps with a sarcastic tone?) I suppose is subject to debate. However, I will also note that the demons clearly speak through the man’s voice when they name themselves and request to be sent into the pigs which would suggest that the man was unable to speak for himself until restored to sanity in the broad sense of the word. Reply Leave a Reply Cancel ReplyYour email address will not be published.CommentName* Email* Website Δ
Roy Eugene Peterson August 4, 2025 What a great poem from one of the more memorable stories in the Bible. The plural personification was an outstanding way to present this story and then to bring it into present times with a warning I felt was admirably alarming. Reply
Martin Briggs August 4, 2025 I really enjoyed this. It retells the story convincingly, but then the two chilling final couplets take it a step further. Very clever. Reply
Williams Oladele August 5, 2025 This was delightful to read. I especially appreciate the didactic touch at the end. Well done, Skeen! Reply
Joseph S. Salemi August 5, 2025 The idea of a dramatic monologue in the voices of the demons that seized the Gadarene swine is interesting. I know that there have been other cases of a literary text speaking in the voice of the devil or demons (“The Screwtape Letters” of C.S. Lewis comes to mind, or scenes from Marlowe’s “Doctor Faustus, or Goethe’s “Faust”). There are also some older satires, where the devil speaks, but mostly as a device for the poet to lampoon political opponents. One thing about quoting demons: you need to keep in mind not just what they might say, but what they will never say. No demon would ever say “the Lord’ or “the Savior” in reference to Christ. Nor would they ever, as in the penultimate line of this poem, give human beings the advice to “always pray.” Reply
Margaret Coats August 11, 2025 Demons can be inconsistent and sarcastic, saying anything that serves the purpose of damning the human beings they address. They are, after all, fallen angels aware of truth, and capable of using it to pervert potential victims they seek to possess. I very much like the Gospel story told from their point of view, concluded with their own “dare me” sort of warning. Reminds me of a good priest who tells laypersons not to make any reference to devils, even by a prayer of exorcism, for the very reason that when you call them, they come. Your poem, M. D., is therefore a daring one, but suggests the distaste one ought to have, and a grateful appreciation for the Lord capable of casting out Legion. Reply
M.D. Skeen August 21, 2025 Thank you Dr. Salemi and Dr. Coats. Interesting to note the way the demon possessed man himself addresses Jesus in a rather reverential tone in verse 28: “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, don’t torture me!” Whether that is the afflicted man’s consciousness speaking in his own voice or Legion (perhaps with a sarcastic tone?) I suppose is subject to debate. However, I will also note that the demons clearly speak through the man’s voice when they name themselves and request to be sent into the pigs which would suggest that the man was unable to speak for himself until restored to sanity in the broad sense of the word. Reply